BILL NUMBER: AB 1014	CHAPTERED  10/10/99

	CHAPTER   713
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   OCTOBER 10, 1999
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   OCTOBER 6, 1999
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   SEPTEMBER 9, 1999
	PASSED THE SENATE   SEPTEMBER 7, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   SEPTEMBER 2, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   JULY 7, 1999
	AMENDED IN SENATE   JUNE 15, 1999
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   APRIL 15, 1999

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Cardoza
   (Coauthor:  Assembly Members Aroner and Reyes)
   (Coauthor:  Senator Polanco)

                        FEBRUARY 25, 1999

   An act to add Article 8.5 (commencing with Section 51795) to
Chapter 5 of Part 28 of the Education Code, relating to school
instructional gardens.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1014, Cardoza.  School instructional gardens.
   Existing law sets forth the various authorized classes or courses
of instruction for public schools.
   This bill would establish the Instructional School Gardens Program
for the promotion, establishment, and support of instructional
school gardens, to be administered by the State Department of
Education through the allocation of grants to applicant school
districts and county offices of education and the provision of
technical assistance to school districts and county offices of
education.
   This bill would require the California Integrated Waste Management
Board to give preferential consideration during its annual
discretionary grant funding process to providing an appropriate level
of funding to the program and would provide that the program would
be implemented only if funds become available from private donations,
special fund money, or federal money, or any combination thereof,
for those purposes.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Article 8.5 (commencing with Section 51795) is added to
Chapter 5 of Part 28 of the Education Code, to read:

      Article 8.5.  School Instructional Gardens

   51795.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
   (a) School garden projects provide an interactive, hands-on
learning environment to teach composting and waste management
techniques and the fundamental nutrition concepts embodied in the
Dietary Guidelines for Americans and to foster a better understanding
and appreciation of where food comes from, how it gets from the farm
to the table, and the important role of agriculture in the state,
national, and global economy.
   (b) Encouraging and supporting a garden in every school creates
opportunities for children to make healthier food choices,
participate more successfully in their education experiences, and
develop a deeper appreciation of both their community and each other.

   (c) Garden programs can equally enhance any subject area including
science, environmental education, math, reading, writing, art,
physical education, history, and geography.  As California continues
to strive toward improved pupil performance, the garden project
provides a unique method through which it can be achieved.
   51796.  (a) The Instructional School Gardens Program is hereby
established for the promotion, creation, and support of instructional
school gardens by eligible educational agencies.  The program shall
be administered by the State Department of Education through the
allocation of grants to applicant eligible education agencies and the
provision of technical assistance to eligible education agencies.
The State Department of Education may consult with the Integrated
Waste Management Board and any appropriate public institution of
higher education regarding curriculum development and regarding the
evaluation of any program established pursuant to this article.  Any
eligible education agency interested in participating in the
Instructional School Gardens Program may apply to the State
Department of Education for a one-time grant.
   (b) For purposes of this article, "eligible educational agency"
means any school district or county office of education.
   51797.  During its annual discretionary grant funding process, the
California Integrated Waste Management Board shall give preferential
consideration to providing an appropriate level of funding to the
program established pursuant to this article.
   51798.  This article shall be implemented only if funds become
available from private donations, special fund money, or federal
money, or any combination thereof, for the purposes of this article.
